Kendrick Lamar Wants to Be Out of the Ordinary With His Acting Career

Kendrick Lamar made his acting debut as a crack addict named Laces on the Starz series Power on Sunday (July 30) to the delight of many fans. Days before the episode's premiere, he sat down with showrunner Courtney Kemp and co-star 50 Cent to discuss his approach to the performance.

The Pulitzer-winning rapper explained that he views his acting like his music: a space to explore himself and his surroundings with a workmanlike commitment to finding truth.

"I think that's just the approach I learned to take with my music, to always have that open space to evolve," he told Kemp. "So, the same 100 percent I put into music, I want to put that on the screen as well."

Lamar also shared how the role, the idea for which he first floated four years ago, came about. He said he told Kemp that he preferred not to play a character similar to his on-mic persona, but still wanted to portray a character familiar to him. He drew inspiration for Laces from his childhood in Compton.

"I don't want to be something that people will predict or know. I want to be something out of the ordinary, but something I connect to at the same time," he said. "A drug abuser. Laces. A hot head. A dude that's just ready to go, always on the tape. It's just a character that I know, I know so well, just growing up in Compton."

The interview also includes praise of K. Dot's acting from 50 Cent, who effused, "How the fuck did you get your eye to move like that?" Mark Canton, the show's executive producer, previously called Lamar a "once-in-a-generation talent."

You can watch the full interview below. The show, currently in its fifth season, is available to stream on Starz.